CBI arrests journalist Vivek Raghuvanshi & ex-Navy Commander Ashish Pathak for sharing sensitive information
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested alleged Indian Bureau Chief Vivek Raghuvanshi working for a US Defence News portal DefenseNews.com as well as Ex-Indian Navy Commander Ashish Pathak for sharing sensitive information about the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the army with foreign intelligence agencies as per official sources.
After lodging an FIR U/s Section 3 (spying) of the Official Secrets Act and with Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, CBI conducted extensive searches on locations linked to the freelance journalist & alleged Indian Bureau Chief, as well as people close to him at 12 places in Jaipur and National Capital Region (NCR).
During the Searches, critically sensitive documents were located from Various search locations & were sent for Scrutiny & legal review.
According to the CBI, he was gathering specific minute details about the progress of various DRDO projects.
He was also gathering information on future procurement details for Indian armed forces, which could have harmed India’s strategic & defence capabilities as well as hampered foreign relations with multiple countries had this information been made public.
The CBI spokesperson said: "It is alleged that he collected and passed on sensitive details about the future procurement of Indian armed forces which reveal the strategic preparedness of the country besides classified communications and information relating to national security, details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with our friendly countries and sharing such classified information with intelligence agencies of foreign countries," the official was quoted as saying by PTI.
What was more shocking, classified communications and information relating to national security, and details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with its friendly countries were accessed by the accused and shared with the foreign intelligence agencies.
As per a news article of theHindu.com, In September 2020, the Delhi Police arrested another freelance journalist, Rajeev Sharma, on the allegation that he supplied confidential information to Chinese intelligence officials in lieu of remuneration. In July 2021, the Enforcement Directorate arrested him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
“The cash for remuneration of Rajeev Sharma and other unknown persons was being generated through ‘hawala’ means by some Mahipalpur-based shell companies run by Chinese nationals named Zhang Cheng alias Suraj, Zhang Lixia alias Usha and Quing Shi along with a Nepalese national, Sher Singh aka Raj Bohara,” an ED official had then said.
The ED also attached property worth Rs 48.21 lakh of Mr Sharma in January last year.
After lodging an FIR U/s Section 3 (spying) of the Official Secrets Act and with Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, CBI conducted extensive searches on locations linked to the freelance journalist & alleged Indian Bureau Chief, as well as people close to him at 12 places in Jaipur and National Capital Region (NCR).
During the Searches, critically sensitive documents were located from Various search locations & were sent for Scrutiny & legal review.
According to the CBI, he was gathering specific minute details about the progress of various DRDO projects.
He was also gathering information on future procurement details for Indian armed forces, which could have harmed India’s strategic & defence capabilities as well as hampered foreign relations with multiple countries had this information been made public.
The CBI spokesperson said: "It is alleged that he collected and passed on sensitive details about the future procurement of Indian armed forces which reveal the strategic preparedness of the country besides classified communications and information relating to national security, details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with our friendly countries and sharing such classified information with intelligence agencies of foreign countries," the official was quoted as saying by PTI.
What was more shocking, classified communications and information relating to national security, and details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with its friendly countries were accessed by the accused and shared with the foreign intelligence agencies.
As per a news article of theHindu.com, In September 2020, the Delhi Police arrested another freelance journalist, Rajeev Sharma, on the allegation that he supplied confidential information to Chinese intelligence officials in lieu of remuneration. In July 2021, the Enforcement Directorate arrested him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
“The cash for remuneration of Rajeev Sharma and other unknown persons was being generated through ‘hawala’ means by some Mahipalpur-based shell companies run by Chinese nationals named Zhang Cheng alias Suraj, Zhang Lixia alias Usha and Quing Shi along with a Nepalese national, Sher Singh aka Raj Bohara,” an ED official had then said.
The ED also attached property worth Rs 48.21 lakh of Mr Sharma in January last year.